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Coins, Currency, and Medals

The Museum possesses one of the largest numismatic collections in the world. The collections include over 1 million objects, comprising coins, medals, decorations, and pieces of paper money. Among the many great rarities here are some of the world’s oldest coins, created 2,700 years ago. But the collection also includes the latest innovations in electronic monetary exchange, as well as beads, wampum, and other commodities once used as money. A special strength lies in artifacts that illustrate the development of money and medals in the United States. The American section includes many rare and significant coins, such as two of three known examples of the world's most valuable coin, the 1933 double eagle $20 gold piece.

Produced at George Wyon's private mint, Birmingham, England. Obverse: Seated figure of Columbia with scales of justice and a Liberty cap, date below. Reverse: All-seeing Eye in a glory with stars, CONSTELLATIO NOVA around. This pattern accompanied a proposed contract coinage to be made in England and shipped to America. This version never went any farther, perhaps in part because the obverse die for this pattern contained a major blunder: the first word should have been IMMUNIS, not IMMUNE. A few pieces were struck in copper, and this one (using an English guinea as a blank) in gold. Such contract proposals continued through the early 1790s, but they never bore fruit. Congress concluded that it was simply too dangerous to entrust producing America's money to a foreign source.

Produced at a private mint, either in New York City or Rahway Mills, New Jersey. Obverse: Portrait of New York Governor George Clinton. Reverse: Arms of New York state, date below. Struck for the same purposes as the Indian/New York arms copper, the Clinton variety had no greater success. Eight to ten specimens including this one are known.

Produced at a private mint, either in New York City or Rahway Mills, New Jersey. Obverse: Standing Indian with bow and tomahawk. Reverse: Arms of New York State, date below. In common with several other states (who enjoyed the power to coin or circulate money under the Articles of Confederation, then still in force) New York mulled over the idea of a contract coinage. One of the prominent players was James F. Atlee, who created this pattern for his friend Thomas Machin. The latter was in hot pursuit of a contract to strike copper coinage for the state of New York. Machin did not receive the contract. However, he and his friend Atlee soon established a clandestine coining operation near Newburgh, New York. A dozen or so patterns are all that remain from the original idea.

Produced by Ephraim Brasher in New York City. Obverse: Sun rising over mountains; BRASHER below. Reverse: Crude eagle within continuous wreath; EB countermark on eagle's wing. Its existence apparently unknown until the beginning of the twentieth century, this unique coin was struck with the same pair of dies used to create the Brasher Doubloon.

Ephraim Brasher was a goldsmith, and his EB countermark also appeared on foreign gold coins of the day. It proclaimed that he had tested or assayed them and stood behind them.

Die-cut badge from a sheet of celluloid. A star rests atop a circular piece, and is engraved with an image of Christopher Columbus. The celluloid piece is stapled to a red, white, and blue silk ribbon that can be pinned to one's clothing.

Souvenir from the Norwich, Conn. celebration on October 21st 1892 of the 400th anniversary of Columbus's discovery of America.

Benjamin Pike Jr. (1809–1864), an instrument maker and dealer who had recently opened a shop at 294 Broadway, won this silver medal at the American Institute Fair held in New York City in 1844. The obverse is marked "Awarded to Benjamin Pike, Jr. For Superior Air Pumps. 1844." The reverse is marked "AMERICAN INSTITUTE, NEW YORK. R. LOVETT." Pike knew his market well. Americans at that time were establishing numerous schools and colleges and equipping them with instruments for scientific demonstrations. In his Illustrated Descriptive Catalogue of Optical, Mathematical and Philosophical Instruments (1848), designed to attract customers around the country, Pike offered seven different air pumps and many devices to use with them.